POWERING THE PROPOSED MINE
HOW WOULD THE MINE GET ITS POWER? HOW MUCH WOULD BE NEEDED?
It's estimated that the proposed Donlin Creek mine would require an average load of about 127 megawatts. Power would be supplied primarily by on-site diesel turbines, with a 35 megawatt wind farm saving 8 to 9% of the diesel fuel that would otherwise be required. Many other options were studied during the feasibility analysis but do not meet the current needs of the project. Alternatives evaluated include:
- coal-fired power plant in the YK region
- powerline intertie to the existing grid
- gas pipeline from Cook Inlet
- liquefied petroleum gas
- hydroelectric
- peat / biofuel
- nuclear
